Over the years, supermarkets have seen products designed to capture children’s attention with colourful packaging and novelty concepts.
While some became household staples, others were short-lived due to nutritional concerns, impracticality, or lack of appeal.
Here are eight children’s foods that disappeared from shelves after brief experiments.
This article is for general information only. Product availability varied by region, and many items are no longer produced. Photos are illustrative.
1. Coloured Ketchup
In the early 2000s, Heinz released ketchup in purple, green, and blue to appeal to children. While visually striking, parents found the artificial colouring unappealing and difficult to clean from clothing.
Reports of children experiencing hyperactivity and other issues contributed to its decline. Traditional red ketchup quickly regained its place on family tables.
2. Cereal Straws
Kellogg’s introduced cereal straws as an edible way to drink milk. The idea promised convenience but often failed in practice.
The straws dissolved before children finished their drinks, leaving a soggy mess. Parents also disliked the added cleanup, and the product disappeared after a short time.
3. Squeeze Yoghurt Tubes
Squeezable yoghurt tubes promised portability but delivered more sugar than fruit. Children often consumed the contents in one go, creating sticky messes if the tubes were squeezed too hard.
While initially popular, many parents preferred traditional yoghurt pots for practicality and nutrition.
4. Microwaveable S'mores
Pre-packaged microwave s’mores attempted to replicate the classic campfire treat. Instead of toasted marshmallows and melted chocolate, the result was often overheated fillings and artificial flavours.
The product removed the social element of making s’mores together, and its popularity never lasted.
5. Spray Cheese For Kids
Aerosol cheese was marketed to children in novelty colours such as pink and green. The product offered little resemblance to real dairy and often caused more mess than enjoyment, with children treating it as a toy.
Parents found themselves cleaning artificial cheese from furniture and clothing, and sales soon declined.
6. Candy Cigarettes
These chalky sweets were once common in corner shops and marketed directly at children. Packaged to look like real cigarette packs, they often even mimicked logos of actual tobacco brands.
Parents and health organisations became concerned about the message these sweets sent, normalising smoking behaviour at an early age. By the late 80s and 90s, many countries restricted or banned their sale.
7. Bubble Gum-Flavoured Soda
Several soft drink makers released bubble gum sodas aimed squarely at children in the 80s and 90s. The bright colours and candy-like taste appealed at first, but most parents disliked the sugar levels and artificial flavourings.
The novelty quickly faded, and the drinks disappeared from shelves.
8. Lunchables Dessert Packs
While regular Lunchables were already criticised for being high in salt and preservatives, the dessert-only packs pushed the idea further.
These included cookies, icing, and candy for children to build their own “meals.” With little nutritional value and lots of sugar, the product was short-lived and often cited as one of the least balanced snack ideas.
